Barre Falls Dam 2014

[Jim Bobka]

There's a new trashcan on tee 7 and the rangers have finished up leveling the tee area for 9, so next week it's tee box time!

boombowski

[Jim Bobka]

Basket 8 is now official, and tee 9 complete, just needs some purtyn' up a bit; will continue to pack more stone dust as people use it more.

Next on the list: elevating pin 7, moving tee 10, creating an alternate short tee for 5.

[Brad Ayotte]

how often is barre mowed? tryn to get up there for a visit?

[Jim Bobka]

If you're talking haying the fields, and I know you are, it's usually twice a season when it's dry enough weather where the hay won't rot, and since it's been dry it probably won't be too long for the first haying to take place.

Otherwise the majority of the course is nicely mowed.

[Brad Ayotte]

thank you sir

[Jim Bobka]

I received email today from Rangers that haying will begin within the next two weeks....... not great news but not bad. Patience is needed here.

Also, the mowers will start 'defining' the fairways; actually cutting the correct ones (!) and widening the landing zones closer to the pins.

More patience......


serenity now

[Jim Bobka]

THIS MESSAGE WAS SENT to the rangers today:


--- "I recently took my daughter and grand kids to the Barre dam for an afternoon of relaxation. The dam is a beautiful area to visit and is well maintained. However, I must say that the disc golf that is played there has changed the character of the area.

When I arrived I could not help but notice how few people were there as it was such a beautiful day. As we walked around the expansive open areas it became obvious to me that casual visitors do NOT fit well with the golf game. We were yelled at for being in the way repeatedly and almost hit several times by the golfers who obviously feel the land is theirs and theirs alone. They would yell "FORE" and then throw their disc dangerously close to where we were and they throw with great velocity and deliberateness.
If indeed the course is theirs alone then signs should be posted stating this fact. The public use of Engineer property should be such and should not be monopolized by disc golf players." ---

Once again, some signs stating to the visitors that they are in a disc golf area would really be to their advantage. And signs explaining to the younger, inexperienced 'player' about the rules of golf on a public course. And more common courtesy taught at home and in public schools; aka: the golden rule?? = you're more important than my impatient selfish needs.

-- frustrated and a little peed off- jimbo

[Paul Schueller]

Don't sweat it Jimbo, I doubt anything will come from this. I have seen the place packed with non disc golfers many times. She was probably there at some obscure time. The area used by disc golfers is obviously available for anyone to use. But at the same time, they should realize that golfers are going to want to throw discs in certain areas. It sounds like she was just as stubborn about her use of the land as she is trying to make the disc golfers sound. If you spend all of your time at Barre walking only in areas that are in DG use, you probably are going to get yelled at. Who hasn't warned a person walking on a course that you are about to throw at them. If they don't move, usually you still throw.
Paul

[Jim Bobka]

If people don't move I will take the time to go up to them and explain why they should at least turn and watch while the group is throwing. It's to both party's benefits.


blessed are the peacemakers.

[Paul Schueller]

I meant if they don't move, but at least acknowledge you. But going to talk to them would be best

[Titan_Bariloni]

I say BS to that person and their distorted perception of reality

yes I am sure peeps are dinks and throw down on them..etc etc

but yes the DG course is just that a DG course..and the land wouldnt be that well kept if not for DG work beast like Jiimbo and others over what 2 decades?

the DG players bring far more action to the course then the BBQ/walk at the Dam people IMO
also yes DG players litter..I have seen at all dam courses picnic people fillll the bins up as well and litter everywhere as well...does some picnic work beast come round that up no...

DG is always seen as a tiptoed we dont wanna get course pulled and these walkers send emails as such posted above, as if they have the right to just walk where ever they want at anytime..cuz they are some yuppie moron living in their own reality

would you on a public BG course just say hey this looks nice lets go take a walk...


I could rant more but that is why I don't see DG courses as a priv..I see them as long drawn out calculated effort that are followed through by few volunteers for ALL to enjoy...GIVING US the RIGHT to be there..as we followed all the steps to get the course installed..if they OK the design then they gotta deal with potentially losing a group of people to that activity design...

no more then going to a little league field and saying I used to walk here years ago and these little people are everywhere saying get THE HECK out of the way..while they stand between the pitcher and home plate during a game then sending an email to the city much as the one posted to the PTB

that is why I have been pitching things different of late to PTB..no sugar coating of what realities actually are gonna be good and bad..making them decide what they would like to do...if they understand and agree then it's kinda on them to put signs up and educate the crowd

anyways hope they do actually put signs up saying this is a DG course stay OFF...instead of the age old WTF another DG headache

when someone on tully hole 6 brain stems a trail runner/hiker coming through the fairway...I am gonna make sure I am in court to testify on the persons behalf saying I have told them for years to move that tee..ummm basically since forever

I also LOL'ed when they put a fairway along the edge of RT32....then years later a motorcycle was hit...and then the hole moved instantly..and it was a big issue that coulda been all avoided by listening to a DG'er that knew it was porrly designed from the start

the dog walkers on tully hole 1 went ape shart when they put a hole there...then KD picked up 500lbs of dog poop..he weighed it..and showed them LOOK...they all left..cuz they really were mad they didn't have a place for their dog to [bleep] anymore where they didnt have to clean it up...

I better stop the hey board is gonna ignite lol

[Jim Bobka]

..."and these ___walkers___ send emails as such posted above, as if they have the right to just walk where ever they want at anytime....."


Quick, someone post a pic of a zombie getting hit off the head from a Firebird please......... hahaha


yeah, starting with signs is the way to go. For both parties, IMO

[Titan_Bariloni]

nice reference lol

[Josh Connell]

would you on a public BG course just say hey this looks nice lets go take a walk...

Most municipal golf courses are protected from non-golf pedestrians by law...as in, pedestrians just "walking" along a golf course are trespassing (that's why they charge a fee to play, after all). The flip side of that coin is that golf is generally an activity that is disallowed at public parks. While you can go to your average park and play a pick-up touch football, soccer or whiffleball game even if you're not using a designated field, you can't just go to the park and practice your chipping. Basically, golf has its space and walkers/hikers/nature lovers have theirs, and they shouldn't ever be crossing paths.

Disc golf is a lot different in that it generally occupies a shared use space of which it does not get exclusive or preferential use. Since this is the Barre Falls thread, it should be pointed out that the only area that the ACOE keeps up solely because of and for the disc golfers is the (occasional) mowing of the fields on 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The rest, primarily the grassy areas comprising 16-18 and 1-3 are kept up regardless of the existence of the course. And it's generally in those areas that you get the most cross traffic between golfers and non-golfers. Neither party can really claim exclusive or preferential use of those areas. It's shared space. And since we're the ones with the knowledge of the primary activity in that space (most casual pedestrians don't have a clue what disc golf is or what those funky metal things are for), it falls on us to do the educating...and the side-stepping/tip-toeing as necessary.

The only way to avoid the side-stepping and tip-toeing is for the course to be designated as exclusive use (like ball golf courses are) and/or to have myriad signs warning pedestrians that they're entering a disc golf course and the risks they take upon entering are their own. Unless something like that happens, if there are confrontations between golfers and other park users, chances are very good that the park users are going to win out most of the time. It is far and away the biggest flaw in pushing disc golf into public and free to use parks/forests. If we want our own space free from conflict with non-golfers, we have to make it...either by law like municipal golf courses or by more privatization. We can't just assume that we deserve it just because we put a little work into the area the course occupies.

[Paul Schueller]

Unless something like that happens, if there are confrontations between golfers and other park users, chances are very good that the park users are going to win out most of the time.

This of course could happen, but I am not sure. Afterall, they have invested at least time and energy, if not money, into the course. So, why would they then not support DG? Like Titan said:

if they OK the design then they gotta deal with potentially losing a group of people to that activity design..[/color].

They must know that parts of their property, while public to all, are primarily devoted to DG.

[Titan_Bariloni]

The only way to avoid the side-stepping and tip-toeing is for the course to be designated as exclusive use (like ball golf courses are) and/or to have myriad signs warning pedestrians that they're entering a disc golf course and the risks they take upon entering are their own. Unless something like that happens, if there are confrontations between golfers and other park users, chances are very good that the park users are going to win out most of the time. It is far and away the biggest flaw in pushing disc golf into public and free to use parks/forests. If we want our own space free from conflict with non-golfers, we have to make it...either by law like municipal golf courses or by more privatization. We can't just assume that we deserve it just because we put a little work into the area the course occupies.

You are correct Josh for sure...
and yes it will fall onto the DG'ers laps...regardless of what is right or wrong...I for sure know that


I don't think the biggest flaw is having the DG course on public/etc etc land...

The flaw is from inception of the course needs to be reality infused and not just push the good of DG so the green light is granted...it is educating the property owners on what you can expect and what you they need to consider...so THEY can educate the users of the property..I mean heck it is tough work voluntarily constrcuting a DG course...then to take time and educate the entire public..that is not reality..

The problem courses go in with no real plan and no regulations..the ACOE has regulation after REGulation..for everything..time to maybe consider that pamphelt of regs having some DG lit in it...

of course there can be signs everywhere and DG will still get the shart end of stick IMO anyways...

no diving signs up at tully yet everyone dives..someone drowns..the story won't read idiot drown by going in restricted area that is marked clearly..it will read man dies searching for disc on disc golf course...

I also am not a fan of multi use..and think it should not even be considered for future DG courses...maybe back in the day when shots were sub 200ft..but now everyone strecthes the land(for good reason the game has evolved) and create a semi BG public course feel with non laws as you mentioned...but then again we are free to play..something I also now am not in the boat of...I could see a small fee even 1 dollar..to maintain a certain tone and help future of course..also with recourse for stuff like this..as hey I paid to play better not hold me accountable for hitting some idiot that is wondering through course that has no signs anywhere..

of course some multi use is ok...if it is not used anyways except few times a year and when that is going on entire course is closed anyways...so in a sense it is not multi use day to day

as in the case at RFG..when they have skeet shoots entire course is closed..hole 1 is on skeet field...no matter where we put it the entire course would be closed anyways..

at Otter Brook in Keene an ACOE property I designed it 100% away from any multi use...was virgin land of a sense to any activity..and IMO DG deserves that type of plot for the course...it is now become an animal and other activities is just uneeded stresses

this could prob be a huge long discussion involving a million things all tied to one..most in this thread already have pondered them all..so we are prob just preaching to the quire

anyways multi use sux

the old model our forefathers used has created a million problems..but on the flip side the future looks bright for finally getting our own land from these public venues...as is the case in Gardner MA...public BG course down the road and eventually a public only DG course(s)..that is cool!!!

[Titan_Bariloni]

i think the next step is getting away from volunteer/fundraising efforts for courses and getting public funds/maintaining of sport..and maybe even compensation for designers/workers etc etc

but it is tough to let a course not go in due to funding/manpower..that is when the DG community just needs to grind it out for the greater good of the course..so maybe the next guy can see something from the great efforts before him

instead of lynch mobbing a guy for actually getting paid..seems to be the trend in stories I have heard

DG is here to stay!!!!

I am pumped up today..monsoon work will do that to ya

[Jim Bobka]

Thank you boys for responding. Titan, I love your spirit. Being public property, Josh is spot on. I'm pushing for signs for sure. You've got to start somewhere.

[Jim Bobka]

Maybe if they never mowed the entire joint we'd have it all to ourselves.......

Now wouldn't that be fun?




< crickets >

[Jim Bobka]

OK, so the Ranger and I discussed....

He's putting something on the main Kiosk about park courtesy, with both parties involved, just to cover the bases. Good start, I told him, but my idea is to put several small info signs on certain tees (especially the ones along multi-use fields/roads).

And I believe in a couple signs along the same roads "warning" walkers of a disc golf area..... But that's more of a challenge. Just like common sense.

Go figure.

Also I am pushing for a Disc Golf kiosk. We could use our own place for lost and found info, scorecards, a larger golf map, and rules of dg and park use, etc. etc. blah blah blah...... (I stole that from Titan...). A L&F box would be nice. I've still got a box full of plastic with no-show names on them.

Hell, maybe even a donation post (e.g. Devens) for course upkeep.

And I'm still waiting for trash cans, so I bugged his ear about that.

Progression is tough but necessary. I'm no Politician but I do carry a Badge. (a little Cream for ya) ---fighting the good fight- jimbo

[Jim Bobka]

They are starting to mow the fields.





Wow. I can believe again.

[Jim Bobka]

A NEW LIST of demands going to Rangers today; there's plenty to do as usual before tourney time, which is early September. I can work out there Saturdays in the morning or Sunday afternoons, and most week days after work.

Anyone who jumped on board with the Adopt a Hole program please pm me, I could definitely use the help this year (as I'm one year older......and feeling it). One strong day on the weekend we could get a ton of stuff done, as the rangers would be there working with us.

Lots of weed whacking to do and some fun stuff, per usual.... come join the fun! bwahhhh hahaha

[Jim Bobka]

Fields are mowed as of now, they are cleaning up the hay as we speak.

Rangers did some thinning at hole 4, you can see the pin from the tee. Looks real nice. Don't worry, you still can't shoot through the trees. It's a Disc Golf illusion for sure.

Now that the mowing is done, I'm concentrating on tons of weed whacking.

[Jay Ballard]

So, I finally played Barre last night for the first time this year.

Unfortunately, I lost my most beloved disc in the process.

Clear Z Flash with the Celtics logo dyed on it. Has my name and number on the inside rim. My only ace disc!

It punched into the woods on the right side of the stone wall gap on hole 5. It hit branches about 10 ft. up, so it could have fallen right down or sailed into the woods. I looked for over an hour with no luck.

If found, the reward will be great. Honestly, I'll give you every other disc in my bag in exchange for this one.

[Dave Jackson]

Fields are mowed as of now, they are cleaning up the hay as we speak.

Rangers did some thinning at hole 4, you can see the pin from the tee. Looks real nice. Don't worry, you still can't shoot through the trees. It's a Disc Golf illusion for sure.

Now that the mowing is done, I'm concentrating on tons of weed whacking.

Jimbo!!!!!!!

The course is playing AWESOME!!!!!
I was blown away at the subtle changes I had not seen since last year. My bud had not played it since 2005 and he thought it was awesome too.
Love the new 13 and 14. Awesome shots. I think 14 is my favorite on the course now.
The thinning on 4 was tremendous. It looked like someone really cares out there and their efforts were very noticeable.

I could even see one of the Rangers going the extra mile with his weed whacker while I was there.

If people have not played the new changes and tee locations, you owe it to yourself to check it out.


My hat is off to all involved with the work done on this course....

[Jim Bobka]

Anyone not playing it since '05 was in for a real shocker. Tons of trees have been destroyed/removed from the wooded hill area, and I'm sure your buddy did a double take. (Especially since he couldn't toss it across the gorge........ promised I wouldn't go there.)

14 has always been down in the field opening; the tee has been adjusted from years of 'environmental change'; you must've last played it in the winter location? (along the upper ledge)

We talked about trimming the island on 4, and made sure it was kept so no discs can easily get through. When I came down to see it I was blown away, they did a great job!!

Jordan deserves tons of credit, he also strengthened the stone steps across the wall on fairway 13 just recently and is now my go to dude. My group of young Ranger buddies are the freakin bomb!


More to come; anyone not playing it this year is in for a treat...............

Anyway Dave, thanks for the comments, much appreciated coming from 'the' course guru.....

[Tony Ruschioni]

Got a chance to play yesterday with a couple kids from my Youth Group and my 4yr old son. This place is looking amazing! Once i heard the fields had been hayed i knew i had to get up there and throw. Hole 4 just wow, seriously wow, its thinned out the perfect amount not so much that you can easily throw through it but enough where I can easily spot my disc and punch out towards the hole big kudos on that one. Like the new pin placement on 8. Teepad on 9 is a beaut! only thing i see being an issue there is for RHBH throwing into the long grass in the gorge. Absolutely enjoyed my round there yesterday. Thanks to everyone involved

[Jim Bobka]

That area across the road and leading down to the river will get mowed.

Thanks Tony!

[Jay Ballard]

Finally got a chance to play the rest of the course after searching for my lost love...

It is looking AWESOME!!! 8 & 9 are definitely nice changes. 13 has definitely become a sweet hole as well. I'm so glad that 14 remained through the design changes.

Hopefully I'll get some time in the near future to lend a hand. Been an extremely busy summer. I'm thinking the first order of business should be completely clearing the right side of the gap on hole 5 lol

As always, you the man, Bobka!

[Jim Bobka]

I've been busy repairing cars this week (and last.... and before that...) but I'm sure my Ranger boys have been busy as well! I'll be back out there next week for sure, and will post any results they've done by this weekend.

Had to fix wife's van first (ripped steering boot), then did plugs on my Ranger and broke one clean off, so the easy-out came to the rescue (never removed a manifold before, that sure was fuunnnn) then my daughter's car had a cooling issue; it took an hour just to get to the thermostat, never mind switching it out and putting it all back together. Now my cat mid-pipe is split so I'm in the middle of that. I probably saved over a grand, though, through it all.


can't wait to throw a disc again..... and check out Otter Brook...................... booooom!!

greasy fingernails bobka -- out